Athletics Ireland is bring a major new half marathon to Dublin in partnership with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series – the ‘World’s Largest Running Series’.
The Dublin race is currently scheduled to take place on 6 August, 2012 and is expected to attract over 10,000 participants. It is organized by Competitor Group Inc (CGI).
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Dublin Half Marathon is part of an international series of musically themed marathons and half-marathons that combine entertainment with a scenic road course.
The event features live bands performing at every mile along the route, cheerleaders encouraging runners, themed water stations and a finish line concert headlined by a major act.
Race weekend in Dublin will begin with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, which runners will pick up their race numbers at. The expo will feature more than one hundred running and fitness retailers.
John Foley, CEO of Athletics Ireland, said: "This event provides a perfect stage to grow local participation in athletics and it also comes at a time when we are increasing our focus on sports tourism.
"Competitor Group is a worldwide leader in the endurance sports sector and it has an international presence that will help bring runners to Dublin from around the world.
"We want people to come to Dublin for our beauty and our culture and leave with an unforgettable running experience."
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series began in San Diego in 1998.
The series of musically themed marathons and half-marathons has expanded across the US from five events in 2008 to 18 events in 2011.
With charity partners raising more than $260 million at the events to date, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has become one the most successful charity fundraising platforms in the world.
With the addition of the Rock 'n' Roll Dublin Half Marathon, the tour schedule will feature events in 29 worldwide destinations in 2012.
Organiser Peter Englehart of CGI said: "Ireland and its capital city of Dublin are a perfect fit to host a Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series event. Dublin is a bustling city with a great love of sports, outdoor entertainment and world-class cultural offerings.
"We are extremely happy and pleased to bring an event of this caliber to the city and we know there will be a lot of excitement around this race every year."
